Marsalis - a trumpeter from the age of 6, nine-time Grammy award winner, Pulitzer Prize recipient, humanitarian and more - spoke at a symposium Friday during the 2013 Brubeck Festival at University of the Pacific. He later played a concert before a sold-out crowd at the Bob Hope Theatre.

The symposium audience found him humble and grateful.

"I enjoyed his personal stories," said Roz Lopez, a Stockton teacher. "I was most impressed with his concern for how people should be treated."

Marsalis, who helped raise more than $2 million to rebuild his native New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, answered questions from a panel of four students.

His conversation was more like a jazz riff, never linear, always circling around.

He wanted to grow up and be a jazz musician like his daddy - a man who sometimes performed for as few as a half-dozen people. Friday night, the world-famous son would play before a crowd of several thousand.

"He's a great artist who parallels Dave Brubeck's career as a musician, a leader and a humanitarian," Simon Rowe said of the Brubeck Institute's invitation to Marsalis.

As he shared his musical journey, Marsalis looked out in the audience and spied Gunther Schuller.

The 87-year-old jazz legend had answered questions at the symposium prior to Marsalis.

"I thank the Lord daily that I am a musician," Marsalis said. "I've been fortunate to have teachers and mentors along the way lifting me up."

Schuller, Marsalis said, was there for him at a turning point in his life when the 17-year-old arrived late to an important audition.

Over the years, the two forged a mutual respect and a lasting friendship.

Before leaving, Marsalis walked over to the elderly musician's seat and kneeled down to speak quietly into his ear - saying thank you?